Oral hygiene center



0 United States Patent 1111 3,545,435

[72] Inventors Milton B. Hollander [56] References Cited Stamford Connecticut; UNITED STATES PATENTS 2] A l N ggg' g' 3,192,922 7/1965 Winkler 128/62 f M 1968 3,214,775 11/1965 Murov m1. l28/62UX t d 3 i970 3,273,189 9/1966 Levinson filial... 128/62ux e standard In 3,452,746 7/1969 Shanhouse 128/66 1 l N N Y 3,461,870 8/1969 Linge 128/229 3,465,751 9/1969 Powers 128/66 3,468,306 9/1969 11611161611 128/66 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorneys-Sheldon H. Parker, Tennes I. Erstad and Robert G.Crooks [54] ORAL HYGIENE CENTER 6claims6nrawingfigs' ABSTRACT: Speed controlled structure for driving a [52] US. Cl. 128/66 toothbrush or a gingival stimulator and which can supply a [51] lnt.Cl. A61h 9/00 pulsating jetof temperature controlled wateratadesired pres- [50] Field of Search 128/62, 66, sure for use as a tooth irrigator and gum stimulator, the struc- 24.1, 24.2, 229 ture being driven hydraulically by water main pressure.

EPWEBJMFAL. I 11 l 1 59119 I 34 MEANS nzssun: BOOSTER l I l q? E AND PULSE MEANS I VERTER ACTUATOR ORA N l as I I 46 I TO DRAIN BRUSH OR I l suczr SSS/$5- L J 5 BASE UNIT DIVERTER VALVE PATENTEDDEC 8|97U 3 5 5 SHEET 1 BF 3 V FIGJl POWER UNIT 47 71 I I I IRRIGATOR I I FL MEANS I UID T I DRIVE MEANS 36 RESSURE BOOSTER l q; 9 AND PULSE MEANS 'DIVEFLTER AcTu TOR I DRAIN 42 BRUSH DRIVE I 38 E- MEANS l I TO DRAIN BRUSH OR I EEUCET ""GINGIVAI l ifimfii MEANS I J a BASE UNIT I as I v L E 35 I BI E, J ADAPTOR I 24 I IV 22 2o 1 FAUCET I DRAIN COLD HOT WATER INPUT INVENTORS MIlron B. Hollander AT TORNEY- PATENTEIJ DEC 8 19m SHEET 2 OF 3 MEMBER E K 0 VI w T O C S SLOTTED 58 SCOTCH YOKE WATER E m m w w SEV NL Mama 0A4 PRVS CV3 SUPPLY WATER DISCHARGE PATENTEnnic sum sum 3 BF 3 the principles of the invention;

It is estimated that a vast majority of people have experienced tooth decay and/or problems involving their gums.

It is generally accepted that a conscientious effort directed towards maintaining clean teeth, removal of particles of food from between teeth and stimulating the gum tissues will aid in the reduction of cavities of the teeth and help promote healthy gum tissues.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a hydraulically driven power toothbrush.

It is another object of this invention to toothbrush having a variablespeed.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a hydraulically driven power gingival stimulator.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a power gingival stimulator havinga variable speed.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a pulsating water jet tooth irrigator and gum stimulator.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device which permits the rate of the pulsations of a water jet to be varied. i

It is still another object of this invention to; provide a pulsating jet of water having a desired temperature.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device which is reliable in operation and economical to build.

Other objects and manyof the attendant advantages of this provide a power invention will be readily appreciated as the apparatus becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description .when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: a'duct 51 containing a pressure relief valve set to open at'pres'sures above a predetermined valve can be provided between hose 31 and hose 33.

FIG. 1 is a schematic in accordance with the principles of the invention; i

FIG.2 is a view in section of the power handle in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of a rotary type of pump in accordance with FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a housing of the invention; FIG. 5 is a view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a top view of the housing with the cover removed.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated structure in accordance with the principles of this invention. Two water feed pipes, a hot water pipe 20 and a cold water pipe 22 which may be of copper, bronze, galvanized or, insome instances, plastic, are secured in a leak resistant manner to an adapter 24 which is connected to a water flow control valve 26. The flow control valve 26 can be two separate water control valves, one for the hot water line and one for the cold water line, or it can be of the single lever type similar to that manufactured by American Standard wherein a single control knob or lever regulates the flow of the hot water and the cold water to provide a regulated flow of water having a desired temperature.

The regulated flow of water having a desired temperature flows from the control valve 26 to a diverter valve 28 having two outlets. One outlet is coupled to a faucet 30. The other outlet'is coupled through a flexible hose 32 to a diverter actuator control valve 34.

A fluid drive means 36 such as a turbine or the like is coupled to receive water under pressure from the diverter actuator control valve 34. A return hose 33 which can be an integral part of hose 32 collects the water used to drive the fluid drive means 36 and directs it either directly to a drain or to the fauact 30. The fluid drive' means drives a pressure booster and pulser means 40 and a brush drive means 42. The pressure booster and pulser means 40 provides pulsating pressurized water to an irrigator means 44; and, the brush drive means 42 provides powered motion to a brushor gingival means 46.

The adapter 24 is designed to permit connections to be made to hot and cold water pipes of different types having various spacings. The flow control valve 26 is coupled directly to the adapter 24 and mixes-the hot and cold water to provide a regulated flow of water having a desired temperature. The diverter valve 28 which can be of the type manufactured by the Modern Faucet Company permits the regulated flow of water having a desired temperature to be directed from the flow control valve 26 through the faucet 30 or the fluid drive means 36. During normal operation, the diverter actuator control valve 34 is conditioned to block the flow of water and pressure builds up in hose 32. This build up of pressure in hose 32 conditions the diverter valve 28 to feed water from the flow control valve 26 to the faucet 30. Upon activation of the diverter control valve, that is, conditioning the valve 34 to pass water to the fluid drive means 36, the pressure in the hose 32 drops and the diverter valve 28 diverts the water from the faucet through to the hose 32 and fluid drive means.

The fluid means 36 can be of the piston type or turbine type of structure designed to operate with a fluid supply pressure wi which can vary from 20 psi to psi.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a power unit 47 sized to fit conveniently in a user's hand and containing the diverter actuator control valve 34, a turbine type of fluid drive means 36, a piston type of pressure booster and pulse'pulser means 40, the brush drive means 42, the irrigator means 44, and the brush or gingival means 46.

The hose 32 can be of the two compartment type; one

passageway 31 being provided to conduct water under pres sure to the turbine; and, the other passageway 33 being provided to conduct water awayfrom the turbine. The diverter actuator control valve 34 is positioned within passageway 31 to permit or inhibit the flow of water through to the turbine. A throttle valve 48 positioned within bypass duct 50 controls the speed at which the turbine rotates by controlling the flow of water fed to the turbine. Ordinarily, the throttle valve 48 could be positioned within the passageway 31 to control the flow of water fed to the turbine. However, under certain circumstances when the flow of water through the passageway 31 is throttled down to obtain slow rotational speeds of the turbine, the fluid pressure in passageway 31 can increase and urge the diverter. valve to direct water through the faucet. After a short interval of time, because of the gradual decrease of pressure in hose 31 due to open valve 34, the diverter valve will again operate to feed water from the faucet to the hose 31. Thus, the diverter valve hunts. The use of the bypass duct was found to eliminate this hunt condition. However, if the pressure operated diverter valve 28 is replaced by a manually controlled valve, then the throttle valve can be positioned within the passageway 31 and the bypass duct 50 can be eliminated. Under normal circumstances the water pressure in a home can vary over a wide range. To provide a device which is practically independent of variations in water pressure,

The shafl 52 of th the turbine is secured either directly or through gearing to a disc 54, the disc 54 supporting a rod 56 ,on which is a roller or roller bearing. A Scotch yoke mechanism having a slotted member .58 positioned around and driven by the rod 56 is secured to drive a pump piston 60 through a connecting rod 62. Rotation of the disc 54 rotates the rod 56 about the shaft 52. The rod 56in combination with the slotted member 58 drives the connecting rod 62 forward and reverse for each revolution of the rod as it is rotated through a complete revolution by shaft 52.

The connecting rod 62 is connected to urge the piston of the pressure booster and pulser back and forth within the chamber 64. Partial withdrawal of the piston from the chamber permits water having a desired temperature to be fed can be spring loaded to remain closed until the water in the chamber reaches or exceeds a predetermined pressure.

A tube70, connected to receive the pulsating pressurized supply of water from the chamber 64 through the exhaust valve 66 supports a coupling 72 designed to accommodate a tube 74 which can be made of plexiglass; glass or the like having a jet producing orifice. The tube 74 can be slidably secured to the fitting 72 to permit the tube 74 to be easily inserted and removed thus enabling each member of a family to use a different irrigating means. Under certain conditions such as high speed operation of the turbine and pump, a condition can result where the pump supplies water under pressure faster than it can be passed by the orifice in the irrigator. The result is that the water issuing from the irrigator means has a pressure which is higher than desired. A pressure regulator valve 71 such as a spring loaded valve coupled to tube 70 will prevent the pressure of the water in tube 70 from exceeding a desired value. The water passed by the valve 71 can be fed through a tube or hose'to' hose 33.

If desired, a mouth wash solution can be introduced into and mixed with the water fed to the group. This can be accomplished by connecting tube 35 directly to a container having the mouth wash solution or by metering a mouth wash solution, in concentrated form if desired, into tube 35.

a connecting link 76 coupled to and driven by the connecting rod 62 supports a coupling 78 which accommodates and can be removably locked to a rod having, at its end, either a toothbrush or a conical shaped rubber tip gingival means.

A control valve 80, positioned within passageway or tube 35 controls the flow of water to the chamber 64. During use of the irrigator means, the valve 80 is open and water flows from the passageway 31 through tube 35 to the chamber 64. When the irrigator means is not being used, the valve 80 is closed to block the flow of water, to the chamber 64. At the same time, the tube 35 and chamber 64 is opened to the atmosphere to prevent the formation of a partial vacuum within the chamber 64.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a rotary pump which can be substituted for the reciprocating pump to provide a pressure booster and pulser means 40. The pump 80 consists of an eccentric rotor 82 which revolves within a close-fitting cylinder 84, a'vane 86 being held tightly against the rotor by a spring, to' separate the inlet tube 35 from the outlet port 88. During each cycle the crescent shaped space 90 fills with water, and as the rotor turns, this water is forced through the outlet valve and port 88.

If desired, a pin attached to link 76 and riding in a spiral channel 45 can provide a twisting motion to the reciprocating motion of the brush or gingival means.

When a rotary pump is used in place of a reciprocating pump, the shaft of the rotary pump can be connected either directly to or through gearing to the shaft of the turbine; and, the disc 54, rod 56 and Scotch yoke mechanism, the brush drive means, is used to provide the motion for the brush and gingival means.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view in perspective of a housing of the invention showing the nozzle of the faucet 30 and knob of a single lever water flow and temperature controlling valve 26. Surrounding the top and upper sides of the unit is a hinged cover 92.

FIG. 5 is a view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the positioning of the power unit 47, the irrigator means 44, the brush means and the gingival means. The irrigator means, brush means and gingival means can be color coded to avoid confusion when more than one member of a family uses this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure of FIG. 4 with the cover 92 in its open position. The flexible hose 32 containing two passageways 31 and 33 can be manufactured to contain a curl memory to facilitate its storage.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is,

therefore to be understood that within the see of the appended claims the invention may be practiced o erwise than booster and pulser means, a brush drive means, fluid drive means coupled to drive said pressure booster and pulser means and said brush drive means, irrigator means fed by said pressure booster and pulser means, brush means driven by said brush drive means, valve means to regulate a flow of water, a faucet, a diverter valve interposed between said valve means, said faucet and said fluid drive means to selectively direct the flow of water from said valve means to said faucet or said fluid drive means, and a diverter valve actuator interposed between said diverter valve and said fluid drive means to operate said diverter valve by selectively passing or blocking the flow of water to said fluid drive means.

2. An apparatus for oral hygiene comprising a fluid drive means, pressure booster and pulser means driven by said fluid drive means, irrigator means fed by said pressure booster and pulser means, valve means to regulate a flow of water, a faucet, a diverter valve selectively controlled by water pressure interposed between said valve means, said faucet and said fluid drive means to selectively direct the flow of water for said valve means to said faucet or said fluid drive means, and a diverter valve actuator coupled to operate said diverter valve by selectively passing or blocking the flow of water to said fluid drive means.

3. An apparatus for oral hygiene comprising a turbine, a piston pump driven by said turbine, irrigator means fed by said piston pump, pressure regulator means interposed between said irrigator and said piston pump, valve means to regulate a flow of water, a faucet, a diverter valve selectively controlled by water pressure interposed between said valve means, said faucet and said turbine to selectively direct the flow of water from said valve means to said faucet or said turbine, and a diverter valve actuator coupled to operate said diverter valve by selectively passing or blocking the flow of water to said turbine.

4. An apparatus for oral hygiene comprising a fluid drive means, brush drive means driven by said fluid drive means, a valve means to regulate a flow of water, a faucet, a diverter valve selectively controlled by water pressure, interposed between said valve means, said faucet and said fluid drive means to selectively direct the flow of water from said valve means to said faucet or said fluid drive means, and a diverter valve actuator coupled to operate said diverter valve by selectively passing or blocking the flow of water to said fluid drive means.

5. An apparatus for oral hygiene comprising a turbine, a linkage to convert rotary motion to reciprocal motion driven by said turbine to drive a brush, rotating drive means to rotate the brush, valve means to regulate the flow of water, a faucet, a diverter valve interposed between said valve means, said faucet and said turbine to selectively direct a flow of water from said valve means to said faucet or said turbine, and a diverter valve actuator interposed between said diverter valve and said turbine to operate said diverter valve by selectively passing or blocking the flow of water to said turbine,

6. An apparatus for oral hygiene comprising a fluid drive means, drive means driven by said fluid drive means, gingival means, driven by said drive means valve means to regulate a flow of water, a faucet, a diverter valve interposed between said valve means, said faucet and said fluid drive means to selectively direct the flow of water from said valve means to said faucet or said fluid drive means, and a diverter valve actuator interposed between said diverter valve and said fluid drive means to operate said diverter valve by selectively passing or blocking the flow of water to said turbine. 

